Faustin v. Lewis

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

SULLIVAN, J.

Plaintiff Jossline Faustin was denied an annulment of her marriage to Maurice Lewis based upon a trial court ruling that she was guilty of “unclean hands” and thus not entitled to judicial relief. The Appellate Division affirmed. 172 N.J.Super. 399 (1980). This Court granted certification to consider the extent to which the equitable doctrine of unclean hands should have continued application to annulment proceedings.

The facts appear undisputed, although the case was never fully litigated, the ruling being made solely upon plaintiff’s offer…